Abstract: Buckling landslide is a common failure mode of bedding rock slopes. It is very important to carry out quantitative research on the development mechanism and instability failure of buckling deformation for engineering exploration and prevention of landslides. According to the geological environment and mechanical mechanism of slopes, a simplified model of a three-dimensional compression plate is established in this paper. Combined with gravity, seismic force, hydrostatic pressure, and plastic deformation of the rock material, based on the stability theory of elastic-plastic compression plates, a critical equation of buckling deformation and failure of slopes is derived by using the energy equilibrium theory. For the structural instability and sliding instability of the buckling slope, the corresponding stability judgment methods are put forward. The corresponding prevention measures are proposed for the slopes of different status. Taking Xiaguiwa slope in Batang area in Sichuan Province as an example, the correctness of the proposed method is verified. The calculation results show that the critical buckling length (a1) of the slope is 483.8 m, indicating that the buckling deformation of Xiaguiwa slope may occur. The field investigation shows that the actual buckling length (a′) of the slope is 530.0 m, and a′ is greater than a1. According to the quantitative relationship between a′and a1, the slope is stable. This result is consistent with the actual situation, which proves the feasibility of the proposed judgment method.

Key words: buckling failure, elastic-plastic plate theory, critical equation, judgment method